Chapter 115: The Assassin

After urging Jing Wushuang to rest early, Mu Feng closed the door and sat cross-legged on the bed. Thoughts raced through his mind.

An unexpected storm had passed peacefully, leaving no danger. Yet it was enough to make him realize the outside world was far more complex than he’d imagined. Despite his constant restraint, low profile, and attempts to avoid trouble, he’d still stirred up conflict. Sometimes, intentional quietness and modesty actually drew more attention!

At this moment, Mu Feng finally grasped the profound intentions of Flying Sky Bat and the Tranquil Recluse. Using the melodic yet deadly “Bamboo Sea Tide Song,” they had reminded him to stay constantly vigilant against enemy tricks while traveling.

After pondering awhile, Mu Feng took out the Jade Green Xiao and began playing softly.

Hours of relentless effort paid off. Though still disjointed, the majestic Bamboo Sea Tide Song sounded passable now—not as harshly off-key as before. As he played, he followed the annotated breathing techniques. Gradually, his internal Spiritual Power began rotating along a mysterious path. Strands of pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy seeped into his body like sweet spring water, tempering his bones and muscles.

Playing on, his mind calmed, entering a tranquil, crystal-clear state. Body and spirit sank together into a profound, elusive realm.

Just as expected—this wasn’t merely a music score! It was genuinely a rare cultivation technique focused solely on nurturing the mind!

Mu Feng immediately recognized the Tranquil Recluse’s kindness. He focused deeply and cultivated. Slowly, the sound of his Xiao grew smoother, traveling far on the night wind. His body and mind grew ever calmer. The Ancestral Sorcerer’s Essence Blood inside him seemed to sink deep below the surface. No surge, no boil. Every shred of killing intent vanished without a trace.

Unconsciously, his power gained noticeable growth. Yet the more he practiced, the more he felt an unshakable sense of unease, as if bound by invisible chains—a prickling, restless feeling. Was his understanding of the Path of Tranquility still too shallow? Or had he misunderstood this cultivation method itself?

Without a master to guide him, trying to parse and cultivate solely from a manual was indeed dangerous.

Mu Feng stopped, no longer forcing his cultivation. He carefully reread the entire music score, imprinting every note, every line of annotation firmly in his mind. Seeing the oil lamp on the table, he had an impulse. He set the music score ablaze.

The journey to the Poison Sect was long and unpredictable. To prevent the Tranquil Recluse’s technique from being stolen by accident, the safest way was to burn the score.

Hu…

The night wind blew in from the window carrying a slight chill, making the dim candlelight flicker. After lighting the last scrap of paper, Mu Feng prepared to continue his cultivation, focusing on unlocking the secrets of the “Bamboo Sea Tide Song.” Suddenly, the oil lamp before him tilted toward him—swaying without any breeze. He looked up. A silvery gleam had appeared silently before him, aiming straight at the space between his eyebrows!

Assassin!

Mu Feng’s pupils shrank. Too late to dodge! Instinctively, his right hand shot out. Two fingers clamped onto the sharp gleam in the nick of time. Only then did he see it wasn’t a Crossbow Arrow, but a soft blade of grass! Past the window, dozens of steps away in a dark corner, a masked figure flashed once, then reappeared a hundred paces away in a few leaps—astonishing speed.

“Who?” Mu Feng barked low. Exploding into motion, he plunged through the window, channeling his Spiritual Power as he gave chase.

They raced ahead one after the other, gliding over the rooftops of numerous houses. Soon, they crossed a small river into the desolate wilderness. The masked person ahead moved gracefully, seeming unhurried, yet no matter how hard Mu Feng pushed himself, he couldn’t close the gap. The mysterious masked person seemed deliberately maintaining distance.

“An ambush ahead?”

Looking at the figure staying just within sight, Mu Feng’s heart lurched. Abruptly, he channeled the seething Ancestral Sorcerer’s Essence Blood within him. Instantly, his aura burst outward! Ghastly crimson Blood Vines erupted violently from his body—shiiiik!—shooting forward to ensnare the masked pursuer, intent on capturing them in one go.

Death Entanglement!

Mu Feng unleashed the innate ability of the Millennium Tree Demon, aiming for a swift end. Better than risking prolonged trouble.

A torrent of hundreds of Blood Vines whistled out, a terrifying spectacle sealing the masked person’s retreat instantly. Yet, just as the vines were about to tangle around their body, the masked person’s form spun swiftly inward—flexible, boneless—slipping free at an impossible angle.

“Huh…”

Mu Feng exclaimed in surprise, his hand already drifting toward the hilt of his Flying Sword, debating a lethal strike. But suddenly, the freed masked person halted.

“Young Master Mu, we meet again!”

The masked person turned to face the pursuing Mu Feng calmly. The voice was strangely familiar.

“You are…”

Gazing at the shockingly powerful figure, Mu Feng stopped advancing.

They were tall, nearly his own height, yet slender. They seemed more like a young woman. Looking up and down, an image flashed in Mu Feng’s mind: a figure in a Large Bamboo Hat. The mysterious woman who’d once spared him in the mountains. “You… are that female assassin beside Blind Master Bi Luotian?”

“Well spotted, Young Master Mu! Excellent memory!”

The masked person pulled down the black cloth, revealing a strikingly clear, lovely face framed by cascading black hair. She bowed elegantly. “Ouyang Shengnan, at your service, Young Master Mu.”

“My thanks for sparing my life!” Mu Feng returned the bow, watching the Black-clad Woman before him with confusion.

He didn’t understand why she was here, but he was certain she bore no malice. That “dagger” aimed at his brow moments ago? Just a piece of grass. Had she truly meant harm, he’d have died by her sword back on that mountain.

“You flatter me, Young Master,” Ouyang Shengnan bowed again. “The one truly deserving thanks is I. Over ten years ago, my late father served as a General of the Imperial Guard. He was framed by traitors and executed for treason. Were it not for your esteemed father’s intervention, my entire family—over a hundred souls—would have faced execution, our clan destroyed. His Majesty’s mercy, Ouyang Shengnan can never repay.”

General of the Imperial Guard?

Mu Feng started. His confusion didn’t lessen; it deepened.

Such an exalted rank? Convicted of treason? By the laws of the Tongtian Dynasty, all nine clans connected to the traitor would be exterminated. His own father… who exactly was he, capable of turning the tide and saving a hundred lives?

Woooo…

Before Mu Feng could question further, a long, sharp whistle pierced the air from the distance.

The Black-clad Woman Ouyang Shengnan’s expression changed. She quickly covered her face again. Drawing a gleaming dagger, she plunged it ruthlessly—pfft!—into her own body. With a muffled grunt, she spoke urgently: “My time is short, Young Master Mu. I must go. This time, it was me. Next time, it may be a truly cold-blooded killer. Remember—be extremely careful! The Young Master Mu Tie has secluded himself on Beiliu Mountain for focused cultivation, but the Blind Master by his side is utterly intent on your death. He will never allow any threat to the Young Master’s cultivation path. He has already dispatched numerous elites. Be wary! Remember!”

While she spoke, Ouyang Shengnan turned and retreated. Her voice still echoed, yet her body had already dissolved into a shadow, disappearing into the dense woods.

Blind Master?

The image surfaced: that unfathomably powerful, sightless old man who even made the Ghost Mother wary. Mu Feng’s heart clenched violently. His expression turned grave.